The spotlight for the March 30 show will be on Azinga Fuzile, but there is a potential bout which will likely steal the event when unbeaten Bongani Fule defends his provincial belt against former champion Yamkela Phaliso.
The clash which will form part of rescheduled Last Born Promotions tournament from December 15, dubbed the Southpaw Festival Feast at East London’s Orient Theatre, will be headlined by Fuzile when he takes on Argentinian Walter Matias Leiva.
Fuzile will bid farewell to fights in East London as he embarks on an international campaign, with top Johannesburg promoter Rodney Berman set to play a significant role in his quest to return to world ratings.
While the Duncan Village darling is expected to emerge victorious, a more compelling and evenly matched slugfest will play out on the undercard when Fule risks his provincial featherweight title against Phaliso as they both jostle for a shot at the SA crown.
Phaliso is fresh from a failed bid to dethrone SA champion Zolisa Batyi in August despite entering the clash as a favourite.
Instead, he fought like a scared challenger and never pressed the action to back up his bold predictions allowing the underrated Nxarhuni champ to run a clear points winner.
Despite the meek challenge, Phaliso was dropped to the third spot in the ratings, allowing him to climb right back in line for another shot if he wins his next bout.
But he has decided to risk it all by agreeing to face Fule, rated five rungs below him, for the provincial belt he vacated.
The Makana-born Mdantsane-based unbeaten star is enjoying a five-bout winning streak and will take a quantum leap towards fulfilling his dream of fighting for the SA title if he wins.
“This is the fight to take us towards our goal of an SA title shot because Phaliso commands a lofty rating,” manager Ace Mshumpela said.
“We did not hesitate when this fight was offered to us because Phaliso’s style is easy for us to handle.
“He only relies on knocking out his opponents with a right and if that fails as it showed against Batyi he has nothing else to offer.
“We will frustrate him until he decides to quit and work towards the mandatory spot.”
With every contender in the division fancying his chances against Batyi, it will be interesting to see if he will still be the champion by the time either Fule or Phaliso gets to him.
He is scheduled to defend the title against mandatory challenger Lindelani Sibisi in East London on April 27 with Lindokuhle Khuzwayo also licking his lips in anticipation to get his chance.
Asked if it was a good move to risk Phaliso’s lofty ratings, manager Mla Tengimfene said: “LBP is in a campaign to have more SA champions this year and Phaliso is one of them.”
“It is about time he goes big or goes home.”
Phaliso has won all but one of his eight bouts by stoppages, with the loss to Batyi his third.
Daily Dispatch
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